Habitat for Humanity's ReStore relocating to Waterford

Waterford - The Habitat for Humanity ReStore, formerly in Salem, is temporarily moving into retail space on Boston Post Road as the agency looks for a permanent location.

ReStore, which acquires and re-sells furniture, construction supplies and other items at reduced prices to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity area building projects, is moving into the former Fastenal store at 82 Boston Post Road. It was leasing retail space at Salem Country Gardens but was not offered a continuation of its lease when that store was sold in a foreclosure auction.

Mark Wujtewicz, the town's planner, told members of the Economic Development Commission Wednesday that permits have been issued. Zoning requirements for ReStore were "easy" to meet because it was a "retail-to-retail" switch, he said.

The space is smaller than the Salem location, but ReStore will offer the same services, Wujtewicz said. He expected the store to open soon, as the move-in process has already begun.

Commission member Richard LaCombe raised a concern over the staging and drop-off area for the store, saying it was a "tight spot" for the business to handle deliveries.

Wujtewicz said that the parking lot, which will be used as the staging area, isn't busy enough for that to be a concern. "It's an advantage and a disadvantage," he said. "The location (behind City Tire) means they're not seen and people don't know they're there, but the staging area issue hasn't come up at all."

Salem Country Gardens was sold at the foreclosure auction in September to Todd Burnett, the highest bidder, at $591,000. Burnett's parents, David and Cheryl, started Salem Country Gardens in 1983.

The corporate entities that last owned the garden store, Salem Country Realty LLC and Robert Matthew Industries, owed the town more than $182,000 in real estate taxes as of Jan. 1, 2012.